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Getting around Athens

Public transport: 

The Athens Urban Transport Organisation (tel: 185; www.oasa.gr) operates the city's buses, trolleybuses, trams and metro/electric train service.

Public transport in Athens is cheap and extensive but often overcrowded. Tickets are sold at bus terminals and some street kiosks (periptera) and must be validated in orange machines located on-board buses or in the metro station. Monthly passes for the entire urban network are available.

Blue-and-white buses run daily - there is also a limited night service on the major routes. The most visited parts of the city are served by several yellow trolleybus routes. In most cases, however, it is preferable to walk.

The electric train/metro Line 1 runs north-south between the suburb of Kifissia and the Piraeus Port. Line 2 runs from Agios Antonios to Agios Dimitrios, with its new Acropolis station just a 10-minute walk from the Acropolis Hill, while Line 3 runs from Egali, passing through Monastiraki and Syntagma to run all the way to Eleftherios Venizelos Airport.

Three tram lines link the city centre and the coast: one runs from Syntagma to Neo Faliro; one from Syntagma to Glyfada; and the third between Neo Faliro and Glyfada.

Taxis: 

Official yellow taxis with red-on-white number plates can also be hailed on the street. A number of companies also operate radio cabs in Athens, including Athina 1 (tel: 210 921 2800), Ermis (tel: 210 411 5200), Hellas (tel: 210 645 7000) and Ikaros (tel: 210 515 2800).

When taxis are in heavy demand, it is not unusual to share the ride (but not the fare) with other passengers. Tipping is not customary.

Driving: 

To improve Athens's traffic and pollution problem, cars with registration plates ending in an odd number are allowed in the city centre only on odd-numbered days of the month, while those ending in even numbers are allowed in only on even-numbered days. Foreign cars are exempt from this government scheme, which applies from Monday to Friday.

Parking is extremely difficult in central Athens, as it is restricted in many streets. Luxury hotels have their own parking spaces; otherwise drivers can try the central but very crowded car park at Kathmonos Square. For all these reasons, a car is more of a problem than an asset in Athens, although visitors may wish to rent one for a trip out of the city.

Car hire: 

Regulations vary between companies; however, in all cases drivers require a valid driving licence. A national driving licence is sufficient for nationals of EU states. Other nationalities should obtain an International Driving Permit. The minimum age for hiring a car ranges from 21 to 25 years. Major car hire providers include Avis (tel: 210 687 9600; www.avis.gr), Budget (tel: 210 898 1444; www.budget-athens.gr), Europcar (tel: 210 924 8810; www.europcar.com) and Hertz (tel: 210 626 4000; www.hertz.gr).

Bicycle hire: 

Scooters are a popular means of transport in Athens although riding a bicycle cannot be advised. Rent Moto, Robertou Gali 1, Makrigiani (tel: 210 923 4939; www.motorent.gr), hires out scooters and bicycles.

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